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Inelastic collisions in natural H2 are studied from the experimental and theoretical points of view between 10 and 140 K. Rotational populations and number densities measured by Raman spectroscopy along supersonic expansions of H2 provide the link between experimental and theoretical rotranslational state-to-state rate coefficients of H2 in the vibrational ground state. These rates are calculated in the close- scattering approach with the MOLSCAT code employing a recent ab initio H2–H2 potential. The calculated rates are assessed by means of a master equation describing the time evolution of the experimental rotational populations. The feasibility for obtaining the rates on the sole basis of the experiment is discussed. The dominant processes j1j2→j1′j2′ in the investigated thermal range are found to be 21→01>30→12>31→11, proving the importance of double processes such as 30→12. Good agreement is found between theory and experiment, as well as with earlier ultrasonic measurements of relaxation times. A spectral representation is proposed in order to visualize quantitatively the collisional contributions in any nonequilibrium time evolving process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an experimental determination of the k00→02 rate coefficient for inelastic H2:H2 collisions in the temperature range from 2 to 110 K based on Raman spectroscopy data in supersonic expansions of para-H2. For this purpose a more accurate method for inverting the master equation of rotational populations is presented. The procedure permits us to reduce the measured k00→02 rate coefficient to the corresponding σ00→02 cross section in the range of precollisional energy from 360 to 600 cm-1. Numerical calculations of σ00→02 carried out in the frame of the coupled channel method are also reported for different intermolecular potentials of H2. A good agreement is found between the experimental cross section and the numerical one derived from Diep and Johnson’s potential [J. Chem. Phys. 112, 4465 (2000)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Line mixing effects have been studied in the ν[sub 2] and ν[sub 1] parallel bands of NH[sub 3] perturbed by He at room temperature. Experiments have been made with a Fourier transform spectrometer covering a wide range of total pressures up to about 400 atm. Analysis of the spectra demonstrates, for the first time, that the spectral shapes of entire ammonia bands can be significantly influenced by line mixing. A theoretical approach based on the energy corrected sudden approximation (ECS) is used to predict and analyze these effects. The model parameters include dynamical factors directly computed from an NH[sub 3]–He potential energy surface and a scaling length which has been determined from a fit of line-broadening data. Comparisons with measurements show that the ECS model leads to surprisingly satisfactory predictions when considering the large spacing between rotational levels. The large effects of line mixing within the Q branches and in the far wing of the absorption bands are analyzed. It is shown that purely Lorentzian calculations can lead to underestimation of the Q branch peak by a factor of up to 4, whereas the overestimation of absorption in the band wing reaches one order of magnitude. On the contrary, the proposed ECS approach leads to much better results and accounts for most of the transfers of intensity among the various spectral components. It is used for the analysis of the shape of Q branches, P and R manifolds and line wings. Remaining discrepancies are discussed in terms of the model approximations and the improper dependence of the basis dynamical factors on quantum numbers induced by uncertainties on the potential energy surface used. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present measurements of He-broadening parameters for the R(0) and P(2) lines in the fundamental band of 13CO at different temperatures between 12K and room temperature. The broadening parameters are determined, taking into account confinement narrowing, by simultaneous least-squares fitting of spectra recorded using a frequency stabilized diode laser spectrometer. The pressure broadening cross sections are deduced and compared to close-coupling calculations and earlier results obtained for rotational transitions of 12CO. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Integral cross sections and pressure broadening coefficients have been measured for the acetylene — neon system by a molecular beam scattering technique and by high infrared resolution spectroscopy, respectively. We have performed quantal calculations using an ab-initio potential energy surface (PES) [J. Chem. Phys. 109, 8968 (1998)]. Results are found to be in good agreement with both measured integral cross sections and pressure broadening coefficients for the two temperatures investigated (173 and 298 K). We have also derived a semi-empirical PES parameterized using an atom-bond pairwise additive scheme. This PES shows an isotropic component in agreement with the ab-initio calculation, reproduces the scattering data but it only leads to a reasonable agreement for the pressure broadening coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The collisional shifts and widths of several P-branch spectral lines in the fundamental band of CO–Ar have been measured at temperatures between 214 and 324K and pressures between 0.025 and 1atm. The widths have been determined using a line shape model based on the solution of the transport/relaxation equation for the appropriate off-diagonal element of the density matrix. The model uses a realistic molecular potential energy surface to calculate the speed dependence of the collisional broadening, and a rigid sphere potential to calculate the translational motion. It is found that both the shifting and broadening coefficients follow a power law dependence on the temperature. Additionally, it is demonstrated that studies have tended to overestimate the accuracy of collisional widths when the line shape model used to obtain the widths involves multiple fitted line shape parameters or fails to fit the measured spectra within the experimental noise. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The shapes of Dicke-narrowed spectral lines in the fundamental P-branch of CO in Ar are studied by comparing high-resolution measurements and theoretical calculations. The measured spectra were recorded at temperatures between 214 and 324K, and at pressures between 0.025 and 1atm. The calculations are based on solving a transport/relaxation equation for the appropriate off-diagonal element of the density matrix; they use a realistic intermolecular potential to determine the speed-dependent collisional broadening, and a rigid sphere potential to determine the Dicke narrowing. It is found that the calculations can reproduce the measured spectra within the experimental noise under all conditions, but that the magnitude of the Dicke narrowing in the measured spectra is 70–90% less than predicted from the mass diffusion constant. A revised view of the collision operator resolves the discrepancy in principle, and leads to a better understanding of the line shape problem in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]